Nationals beat Cubs 10-4 on opening day for manager Blake Butera’s first win with the team

By: Jay Cohen, The Associated Press Posted: 4:28 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 26, 2026 Last Modified: 8:20 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 26, 2026

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CHICAGO (AP) — Brady House, Joey Wiemer and Jacob Young homered for Washington on opening day, and the Nationals beat Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs 10-4 on Thursday for manager Blake Butera's first win with the team.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/03/2026 (190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CJ Abrams hit a tiebreaking two-run single during Washington’s six-run fourth inning on a blustery, overcast afternoon at Wrigley Field. Andrés Chaparro had two hits and scored a run.

Butera is part of a new leadership group for the rebuilding Nationals after they went 66-96 last year in their sixth straight losing season. Paul Toboni took over as the team’s president of baseball operations on Oct. 1, and he hired the 33-year-old Butera out of Tampa Bay’s front office.

Washington Nationals' Jacob Young (30) runs the bases afer hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Michael Busch had three hits for Chicago, which begins the season with World Series aspirations after losing to Milwaukee in the playoffs last year. Pete Crow-Armstrong had two hits and two RBIs just days after agreeing to a $115 million, six-year contract with the Cubs.

Bregman and Crow-Armstrong each got a loud ovation from the crowd of 39,712 when they were announced with the starting lineup. Bregman went 1 for 4 with a single and a walk in his first regular-season game since signing a $175 million, five-year contract with the Cubs in free agency.

Wiemer hit a solo drive to left off Matthew Boyd in the second. Young capped Washington’s fourth-inning outburst with a two-run shot to right off Ben Brown, and House tacked on another two-run drive in the ninth against Jacob Webb.

Boyd (0-1) was charged with six runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his third career opening-day start. The left-hander struck out seven and walked one.

Washington’s Cade Cavalli allowed three runs, two earned, and three hits in 3 2/3 innings in his first start on opening day. Brad Lord (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the win.

Up next

Following a day off, Miles Mikolas makes his first start for Washington on Saturday. Mikolas signed a $2.25 million, one-year deal with the Nationals in February. Cade Horton pitches for Chicago.

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